B-52 Traverses Middle East as US Troops in Iraq and Syria Are Attacked
July 27, 2024 | By Chris Gordon
A U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber flew from Europe across the Middle East on July 25, making a 32-hour flight as U.S. troops came under attack in Iraq and Syria on July 25 and July 26, U.S. officials told Air & Space Forces Magazine.
The bomber took off from Romania, where it was deployed on a brief Bomber Task Force mission, traveled east over the Mediterranean Sea, then crossed into the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations. Flying over Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, it reached the Persian Gulf, then turned back, headed for the Atlantic Ocean, according to open-source flight tracking data reviewed by Air & Space Forces Magazine.
The aircraft, tail 60-0054, then returned home to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., on July 26.
The B-52 mission showcased ”extensive options … for fielding combat-ready forces to protect and defend the region from adversary aggression,” Air Forces Central (AFCENT) said in a July 27 press release. The mission was focused on practicing maritime firepower support, AFCENT said.
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/b-52-middle-east-us-troops-iraq-sryia/
